Submarine



F. MACHAVA.

SUBMARINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1919. 1,363,137, Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- F. MACHAVA;

.SUBMARINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, I9I9- 1,363,137, Patented Dec. 21,1920.

3 SHEETS SHEEI 2.

FRANK MACHAVA, GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

suB uAnrnE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd Dec, 21, 1920.

Application filed May 3, 1919. Serial NO. 294,563.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MACHAVA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greensburg, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Submarine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to submarine boats and has for an object the provision of a submersible vessel of generally improved construction,

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the submarine; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse secsection 2. The inner and outer bulls are spaced apart to provide a water-ballast space which is divided into separate compartments by partitions or bulk-heads 3, thereby form:

- ing a number of separate ballast-tanks 4. In this instance,three compartments or tanks are shown to provide forward, middle and after ballast compartments or tanks 4,, This par: ticular number of ballast-tanks 1s not mans datory, but may be determined by the conditions to be met in practical application. The

' outer and inner hulls 1 and 2 are substantially U-shaped in cross sectionat their midship and after portions, but gradually merge together at their forward end to provide a tapered bow, this taper being formed in both sides of the inner and outer hulls and in the bottom of the outer hull, V

A water-tight superstructure 5 is provided and extends laterally and rearwardly beyond the outer hull section 1. This superstructure 5 is approximately elliptical in cross section at its midship and after portions, but converges or tapers at its forward end and merges into the contour of the bow of the outer hull section 1.

Positioned beneath the bottom of the superstructure 5 and surrounding the outer hull 1, is a sponson section 6, the midship and after cross sections of the sponson 6 approximates the quadrant of a circle, but at its forward end it converges toward the outer hull 1 and merges into the general contour ofthe bow of the outer hull 1 and superstructure 5; Thus it is obvious that the separate components of the submarine boat all converge at their forward ends and merge into a common and symmetrical bow.

In order to flood the ballast-tanks 4, preparatory to submergence, each tank is provided with a flood-valve comprising a valve or gate 7 that is hinged to the outer hull 1, and a stem 9 is pivotally secured to the valve 7 The stem 9 and valve 7 are controlled by a hand wheel 14 which is located within the inner hull 2 and which may be readily manipulated to open and close the valve 7.

A primary means for flooding the tank 4, as well as means for pumping the water from the tanks, are provided and include pipe-lines 17, 18 and 19 which lead from the forward, middle and after tanks 4, respectively. Each pipe-line has a controlling valve 20, and these pipes lead to a common or main pipe 21, which is, in turn, connected to a suitable pump 22, that is driven by any 7 suitable source of power, preferably a gasolene motor 23.

The boat is propelled by a motor 27 that drives a propeller shaft 28 through the usual transmission device 29, and steering means is provided that includes a rudder structure 44, which is operably connected to. a steering wheel 54, through the instru mentality of a link 46, sleeve 47, and a rod48. r ,7

A telescopic observation tower is provided and comprises an outer cylindrical casing 66 which is slidably supported by a standard or frame 67. The casing 66 extends through the superstructure, and suitable packing or stufling 68 engages the casing 66 at the point where it extends through the upper wall of the superstructure, to provide a water-tight joint. A smaller cylindrical casing 69 is slidably mounted within the outer casing-66, and'the casing69, may be elevated by any suitable hoisting means, which is indicated generally at 84.

Provision is made for positively raising and lowering the vessel, and "includes a transversely disposed shaft 88 which is positioned in a vertical transverse plane that passes throu h the center of gravity of the boat. his shaft extends through alined-stufling devices carried by the outer and inner'hulls 'land 2. Beveled gears 88' are secured to the opposed ends of the shaft 88 and mesh with similar gears 89, that are secured to and carried by vertically disposed shafts 90.

The shafts 90 are supported for rotation by suitable bearings91, and each shaft has a propeller Wheel 92 secured to the lower end thereof. The shaft 88 is connected through suitable transmitting means 97 to an engine or motor 98, which may be readily operated to raise and'lower the boat.

A gun compartment or turret is provided at the forward or bow end of t e superstructure 5, and this compartment has a closure or hatch 120 which is hinged at its after end, .as indicated at 121, to the super structure. The lower or bottom edge of the hatch 120 conforms to the configuration of an opening or hatchway, that extends rearwardly and upwardlyfrom the bow of the superstructure to the top or deck thereof. Extending rearwardly from the after end of the hatch 120 is an arm 123, that is operably connected with any suitable mechanism indicated generally at 127, for opening and closing the said hatch.

A .fiag support is provided and comprises a tubular member 167 that is slidably mounted within a frame 171 carried by the superstructure, and the tubular member supports a flag'176.

The compartment defined by the sponson section 6 may be divided into several scctions for the'reception and storage of various supplies, such as fuel, food, storagebatteries, compressed air containers and the like, and since these form no part of the invention they are not illustrated. Tubular members 15 extend through the outer and inner hulls 1 and 2, and these tubular mem bers 15 or ports communicate with the storage compartment of the sponson section, and the interior of the inner hull 2. A suitable closure may be provided for the inner end of the tubular member 15, which closure prevents communication between the storage compartment and the inner hull compartmentwhen said closures are in position. 7

Suitable braces or ribs may be employed to reinforce the several, compartments of the vessel to withstand the pressure of the exterior water while submerged.

In operation the vessel may gradually submerge by flooding the ballast-tanks through the pipe-lines 17, 18 and 19. But if it is found expedient to submerge more rapidly than this medium will allow, then the flood valves 7 are opened and the boat submerges more rapidly and the submerging of the submarine may be further facilitated by operating-the propellers 92. The vessel may rise from its submergedposition by pumping the water from the tanks 4 throughthe pipe lines 17, 18 and 19 and, if necessary, the propellers 92 may be put in operation to assist in floating'the vessel.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed-is 1. A submarine boat including an outer hull, an inner hull, a Water-tight superstructure extending laterally and rearwardly be yond the outer hull, and a sponson extending around the outer hull and positioned beneath the superstructure. 2. VA submarine boat including an outer hull, an inner hull, a superstructure, a sponson extending around the outer hull and positioned beneath the superstructure, said sponson, outer hull, inner hull and superstructure all merging at their 'for ward ends to form a commonbow for the boat.

3. A submarine boat including an outer hull, an inner hull, the outer and inner hull being U-shaped in cross section, a superstructure extending laterally and rearwardly beyond the outer hull, said superstructure being elliptical in cross section, a sponson extending around the outer hull and positioned beneath the superstructure, the cross section of the sponson approximating the quadrant of a circle.

4:. A submarine boat including an outer hull, an inner hull,.the midship and after portions of the inner and outer'hulls being U-shaped in cross sections, a superstructure extending laterally and rearwardlvbeyond the outer hull, the midship and a fter portions of the superstructure being elliptical in cross section, a sponsonsurrounding the midship and after portions of the outer hull and positioned beneath the superstructure. said sponson, inner and outer hull and superstructure converge at their forward and and merge into a common bow for the oat.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence'of two'witnesses.

' .FRANK MACHAVA.

' Witnesses J. Q. TRUX-ALL, Perm: T. SHAMBORA. 

